So it’s time to share one more of the honey-based treats from this recent installment of Simply Wholesome. In honor of me trying to be more ZEN ( because I am one huge stress ball all the time ), BARLEY TEA is on the menu. Now, I know it doesn’t sound that appetizing and it really doesn’t look that pretty either, but I swear – it’s heavenly. I was so surprised when I took my first sip.

It’s a refreshing, caffeine-free alternative to coffee or traditional tea. It’s equally tasty served chilled (just steep a bag in cold water for an hour or two—no heating required!) or hot. The smoky, roasted flavor pairs nicely with sweetness. We served barley tea hot, with lots of milk and clover honey, finished with a hint of rose water. You’ll have the best luck finding barley tea in the Asian foods aisle of the grocery store.

BARLEY TEA with MILK & HONEY

Barley Tea Bags
Whole milk
Honey
Rose water

Directions:
Boil water. While you’re waiting, place one tea bag per mug, per person. The instructions on my tea say to use ½ a gallon of water per bag, but I use one per serving. We want it strong, so as not to dilute the roasted barley flavor with milk and honey. Strong barley tea won’t have the bitter tannin taste of black tea, so don’t worry! Once the tea has steeped about five minutes, add plenty of milk and honey to taste. Finish off with the tiniest splash of rose water. Enjoy!

…and now a little tea inspired round-up just ’cause —> 01. | 02. | 03. | 04. | 05. | 06. | 07.

Hey Everyone. So it’s been a while since Simply Wholesome has shown it’s yummy face around these parts. Good news, it’s back & in full force. I teamed up with my talented roommate, Kyle Frischkorn, and came up three different recipes that all use the same ingredient, honey!! ( the other two recipes will follow soon) He was actually the mastermind behind these recipes – I just took the pictures, learned a lot about honey, and of coarse – tasted everything. Lucky lucky me huh? Note: Kyle is working on something special involving his cooking skills & lots more recipe-sharing so…. stay tuned for that if you enjoy what you see & eat here!

…a couple thoughts from Kyle about this recipe:
“Honey pairs effortlessly with manouri, feta’s milder, less salty cousin. As for roasting fruit… it might seem strange, especially in spring when fruit is finally fresh and jarringly in season, but I love how roasting concentrates and matures the flavors. Roasted fruit comes out similar to jam, but with less effort (and about a pound less sugar).”

MANOURI, ROASTED FRUIT and HONEY TOAST

4 Cups sliced fruit
4 Tbsp honey (separated)
4 Tbsp olive oil (separated)
Lemon juice
Crusty bread (walnut is especially good)
Manouri cheese
Balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Roasting the Fruit ( do this first ):
Preheat the oven to 350F. Chop everything into similarly sized pieces. I made two separate batches: one with strawberries & red grapes and one with only apricots. Whisk together 2 tbsp honey and 2 tbsp olive oil in a small bowl and pour over the fruit, tossing to coat. Spread evenly over baking sheets lined with parchment paper and roast 4o minutes or until the fruit is soft, juicy and the sugars are just beginning to caramelize. Remove from the oven and add a hefty squeeze of lemon juice. Set aside for later.

The Bread:
Switch the oven over to broil and move the oven rack to the second highest position. Slice the bread, line on a baking sheet and brush with remaining olive oil. Broil (or alternatively use a toaster oven) until evenly brown. I’ve walked away and let toast burn too many times, so now I crouch in front of the oven and monitor for the duration of the toasting process.

Assembling:
Once toasted, spread bread with manouri, roasted fruit, and a drizzle of honey or balsamic. We served this alongside an arugula salad with honey mustard dressing—equal parts Dijon mustard and honey, thinned with lemon juice and seasoned with black pepper. Save unused fruit in mason jars, they’ll last a week or two and are great on pancakes, biscuits, toast etc.

Side note from Emma: These were so fun to cut up, taste test, and chat about the different flavors. We have a large house with lots of roomates so it was a great Saturday morning treat to share with everyone. If you’re hosting a brunch, this is a great recipe to make. My favorite was the strawberry/grape combo AND also just the cheese + honey combo with no fruit was wonderful. If you guys try this, I’d love to hear about what fruits you use or which one of these was your favorite!

Hello, I’m Kacie from A Collection of Passions. I’m thrilled to be here to share this recipe. Around here the root vegetables are bursting from the still-warm-from-summer-soil. I chose to prepare a delicious dish with carrots to share with you. In the fall I love roasting them in the oven with a bit of dijon and maple syrup. Roasting carrots brings out their sweetness which is enhanced with a balsamic reduction in this recipe. You can pick carrots from your garden or find them at the local farmers’ market. I used both orange and purple in the recipe but use whatever you can find that looks fresh and colorful. Happy cooking.

ROASTED CARROTS with a BALSAMIC & SYRUP REDUCTION

2 Lbs organic carrots
1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbs. Dijon mustard
1/2 Cup plus 2 Tbs. real maple syrup
1/2 Cup balsamic vinegar
chevre (goat cheese)
1/2 Tsp. kosher salt
1/4 Tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions.
Wash and trim the tips and tops off your carrots. Halve smaller carrots, quarter larger carrots so they are uniform in size. Place in a large bowl.

Whip together 2 tablespoons maple syrup, the dijon mustard and extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl. Pour the marinade over the carrots. Season with the salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Dump the contents of the bowl onto a large cookie sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil.

Place the carrots in a cold oven, then turn it to 425ºF. Toss and flip the carrots every 10 minutes until they are vibrant and caramelized. About 30 minutes.

Meanwhile combine the 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar and 1/2 cup of maple syrup in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until it has reduced to 2/3 cup. About 10 minutes.

Remove the carrots from the oven and transfer to a serving dish. Drizzle the carrots with the balsamic reduction and, using your fingers to break it up, sprinkle with a couple tablespoons of the goat cheese. Serve immediately with the extra balsamic reduction on the side for those who wish to add more.

Hello! I’m Megan from Fig & Fauna. Summer gives us such an extraordinary variety of simple ingredients to delight in. One of my favorite fruits this summer are Black Plums. I can’t get over the intensely dark skin and yet the inside flesh is so golden and bright. I find myself trying to incorporate these gems into nearly everything I cook! This morning, I made our usual Spelt pancakes, but the twist was juicy slices of Black Plums adorning the pancakes like summer jewels! I love to use Spelt flour because it adds a delicate nutty flavor that compliments the sweet tartness of the plums. I’d like to make a pancake for each season…persimmons for fall, oranges in the winter, berries for spring…the options are endless! Enjoy.

PLUM PANCAKES

1 Cup Spelt flour
1 Tbsp light honey
2 Tsp baking powder
1/4 Tsp baking soda
1/4 Tsp sea salt
1 Egg, Beaten
1 Cup milk ( I used goat milk )
2 Tbsp cooking oil ( melted butter, ghee, coconut oil )
2-3 Plums, sliced thinly and halved
( makes six pancakes )

Directions:
Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt. In a separate bowl, combine the egg, milk and oil. Now add wet ingredients to the flour. Stir until everything is moist, but do not over stir.
Heat a lightly oiled cast iron skillet over medium low. Pour 1/2 cup batter on the sizzling skillet and gently place plum slices on the top of the pancake. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until bubbles can be seen through the batter. Flip to the plum side and cook until golden brown. Serve with honey or maple syrup.

Hello everyone! I’m Erin from Naturally Ella & I am so excited that Emma invited me to share a wholesome ingredient & recipe today! I couldn’t resist sharing one of my go-to recipes based on my favorite summer produce: tomatoes. Tomatoes, especially cherry, are almost like candy to me. There is a slight sweet, earthiness to a tomato that is picked & eaten straight from the vine. The experience & flavor, for me at least, are the essence of summer. I find it hard to eat tomatoes in any other season because I feel so spoiled during the summer.

I wanted to share this amazing & simple tomato sauce. I love whipping up a batch for guest or for a few weeknight meals. The roasting pulls out extra flavor from the tomatoes and the taste is unmatched by the grocery store equivalents. I use this sauce on pasta, however, this works well as a base for pizza. If you find yourself with extra, the sauce freezes well.

ROASTED GARLIC TOMATO SAUCE

Sauce:
2 pounds roma and/or cherry tomatoes
1 medium red onion
5-6 large cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup basil
Juice from one lemon

Pasta:
8 oz pasta (I love homemade)
1/2 cup feta
Basil for topping

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400˚. Cut tomatoes and onions in to wedges. Lightly whack garlic cloves with the side of a knife and remove outer shell. Toss garlic, tomatoes, and onions with two tablespoon olive oil, one tablespoon honey, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Roast for 45-55 minutes. Tomatoes should be slightly browned. Place roasted tomatoes in a food processor along with 1/2 cup basil and lemon juice. Pulse a few times until tomatoes slightly break down. Cook pasta according to directions and once done, assemble with sauce, feta, and extra basil. *This sauce works well for lasagna, pizza, ravioli, and any other place you could use a good marinara.

MMMmmmmmm……!!
Thanks Erin.

I know it’s been a while since I have posted anything for Simply Wholesome but don’t fret, it’s back and ready to blow your taste buds minds! I kicked off the yummy column with Whitney from EatSleepCuddle and am now moving on to other contributors. This month is Laure Joliet, a very talented photographer & friend of mine. We spent the afternoon combing peaches, basil, & bourbon to make the tastiest Juleps you’ve ever had.

PEACH & BASIL JULEPS

Homemade Peach Nectar :
Select peaches that are somewhat soft to the touch and have a pretty fragrant smell. This indicates ripeness. Firm peaches won’t be ripe enough to provide the sweetness needed for a good nectar. Boil enough water in a stock pot to be able to submerge the peaches. Dip each peach into the boiling water until the skin begins to loosen. Remove from the boiling water and place in ice cold water to stop the cooking process. Peel the peaches, remove the pit and cut into slices. Combine 2-3 cups sliced peaches and 1 cup water in a blender. Liquefy until smooth. Strain the liquefied peaches through a sieve. Store the nectar in a sealed jar or bottle in the refrigerator until ready to use. Note : If you want to keep the peach remnants in the drink – don’t strain it. This yields a thicker more smoothie like texture.

Simple Syrup infused with Basil :
Bring 1 cup water / 1 cup sugar / and 15 basil sprigs to a boil. Stir until the sugar has dissolved then let the mixture cool. Store the syrup in a sealed jar or bottle in the refrigerator until ready to use.

The Drink :
Fill cup with crushed ice ( we used one large ice cube )
Add 2 Tbsp syrup
1/4 cup of Bourbon
Stir in 5.5oz. of peach nectar
Garnish with basil sprigs & peach wedges

p.s. Of coarse you have the freedom to mix all of the ingredients to your liking / to taste!
We used less syrup and more bourbon to cut the sweetness!! Always more bourbon, duh.

Photos by : Laure Joliet

Last summer I discovered zucchini blossoms for the first time, and they have definitely become my favorite thing to get at the farmers market, by far. They only cost $1 for a bag of about 5 mini zucchini with the blossoms still attached, and I swear those pretty little flowers could really go on anything! They have a bit of a sweetness at the center, and they are especially perfect as a topping for zucchini mini quiches ( see recipe below ). This quiche is so quick & easy to make, and if you make them muffin-size you can even freeze them and re-heat later. It’s a great source of protein from the eggs, and an easy way to sneak in your veggies. Plus, if you haven’t ever tried zucchini blossoms yet, now you have the perfect reason. You will fall in love! -Whitney

ZUCCHINI BLOSSOM MINI QUICHES -

You’ll need :
+ 2 Tbs. roughly chopped green onion
+ About 10 mini zucchini, chopped
+ 1 Tbs. fresh basil, finely chopped
+ 1 Tbs. fresh chives, finely chopped
+ 9-10 eggs
+ 1-2 Tbs. milk
+ Salt & Pepper
+ White cheddar cheese, grated
+ Fresh zucchini blossoms

Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Sauté chopped green onion & mini zucchini in olive oil for a few minutes, then add finely chopped basil & chives and sauté for another minute or so. Remove from heat and set aside. Beat eggs in a large bowl with a little bit of milk, and season with salt & pepper. Grease muffin pan well. Put a layer of grated white cheddar cheese to fill the bottoms of each muffin cup, then put a spoonful of the zucchini/onion/herb mixture over the cheese in each section to spread evenly throughout. Ladle egg mixture into each muffin cup and bake at 375F degrees for 15-20 minutes ( until tops are golden brown ). Serve with fresh zucchini blossoms! ( Also goes great with avocado! )

*Makes about 12 muffin-sized quiches.

Chow down & Enjoy.

I am happy to announce that Whitney Johnson of EatSleepCuddle will be gracing us with her presence for a bit. As soon as I found Whitney’s blog, I fell in love with her gorgeous photography and simple approach to eating – so it only made sense to reach out to her about teaming up for a food column! One of the things that I struggle with is eating healthy and on a small budget. We decided to dive into that struggle and share what we learn along the way. We hope to inspire you to eat more wholesome foods while keeping the piggy bank under wraps. We can’t wait to hear your feedback.

Hi everyone! I am sooo excited to be a new contributor here on Emmadime! Today I wanted to share with you a little how-to on cooking & preparing dried beans. Bit by bit I have been trying to learn more ways to include more natural “whole” foods in my diet, and using dried beans instead of canned beans definitely fits the bill! They are SO easy to make, and just take a tiny bit of planning and thinking ahead. Totally worth it, considering it is such a simple, easy way to make positive changes on your health.

The BENEFITS of using dried beans –
( instead of their canned alternative… )
01. Less preservatives
02. Less added salt/sodium
03. Less processed
04. Less expensive!
05. Less waste on the environment (sans the can)

**I also think they taste better, have a better texture, and you have more control over the flavor you want in your beans. Here’s how you do it…

HOW TO PREPARE DRIED BLACK BEANS -
01. Rinse 1 cup of dried black beans in cool water, discarding any debris or broken beans
02. Soak in 3 cups of cool water for 6-8 hours
03. Drain water
04. Put soaked beans in a pot with 3 cups of water, and any seasonings you want to add. I added granulated onion, cumin, cayenne pepper, and a tiny tiny bit of granulated garlic. ( don’t add the salt yet, this could slow down the cooking process )
05. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let simmer for 45-60 minutes. ( check periodically to stir and make sure the water has not all been absorbed yet )
06. Add fresh cilantro and season with chilli powder, salt, and pepper before serving

Now that you have your yummy Mexican-style beans, gather your favorite taco fillings and eat up…!

BLACK BEAN VEGGIE TACOS –
+ Prepared black beans
+ Roasted corn on the cob ( seasoned with cilantro, cayenne, paprika, lime )
+ Fresh salsa ( I made mine, but this is an easy one to pick up at the store )
+ Fresh cilantro
+ Cotija cheese ( cheddar or feta also work )
+ Avocado
+ Lime wedge
+ Corn tortillas ( lightly grilled/toasted in a saucepan with a bit of olive oil )

Chow Down.
Hope You Enjoy!